Rainbow Bridge National Monument – Utah, United States

Rainbow Bridge is often considered as the World’s Highest Natural Bridge in Southern Utah, United States. The span of Rainbow Bridge is approximately 290 ft tall, spans 275 ft and the top is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide. The Native American tribes regarded the bridge as cultural importance.

The two famous natural arches, Landscape Arch and Kolob Arch are longer than Rainbow Bridge in Southern Utah. However, they are arches, and the rainbow is a bridge. The Chad Aloba Arch has outdone with 394 feet. Finally, Xianren bridge (Fairy Bridge) in Guangxi Province has a span of about 295 feet and a height of 210 feet, appears to be the largest span natural bridge in the world. Therefore, the world’s tallest arch is Toshuk Tagh in China at an estimated 1,200 feet.

Rainbow Bridge is accessible by a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell followed by a mile-long walk from the National Park wharf in Bridge Canyon, or by hiking several days overland from a trailhead on the south side of Lake Powell.

Rainbow Bridge is made from sandstone firstly deposited by wind as sand dunes, during the Jurassic times. The severe fluctuations in climate were alternately a sea and desert on par with the Sahara—produced layers of sandstone with different levels of hardness. However, by the end of the Jurassic, the sea returned to cover these layers of sandstone and compressed them so tightly that they would persist until the present day.

Rainbow Bridge is located in the rugged, isolated canyons at the feet of the Navajo Mountain. Native Americans knew the bridge as scared for many centuries as a symbol of deities responsible for creating clouds, rainbows, and rain. Many Native American families are still living here. In the early 18the century, cowboys, prospectors, and wandering trappers saw the Rainbow Bridge and did not notice too much. In 1909, Rainbow Bridge's existence came to know by the outside world. In the 1930’s former U.S. President William Howard Taft declared Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

In 1924 a road was built from Red Lake to the West side of the Navajo Mountain. Also, construct a rustic stone building and facilities for mules and tourists, named it Rainbow Lodge. Zane Grey and Teddy Roosevelt was the first tourist to make the trek by foot and horseback from Oljetor to Navajo Mountain. Then they established a trail till Cliff Canyon, then over Redbud Pass to Bridge Canyon. One can make 14 miles trip in one day by horse or mule.  

In the 1930s tourists use the jet boat from Lee’s Ferry to reach the Rainbow Bridge. However higher water made motorboat access to Rainbow Bridge is a little easier bringing thousands of visitors each year. Whenever you go there, be respectful of its significance. Tourist approach and walk under the bridge from one side to the other above the creek bed. The average temperature at the bridge during the summer 37.7 degrees Celsius, and in the spring and fall are moderate, 23.8 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Rainbow Bridge National Monument is April, May-early June, September, and October.